What is England's midfield 'Plan B' vs. China without Walsh? - ESPN

ADELAIDE, Australia — Ever since Keira Walsh was stretchered off in the 35th minute of Friday's match, England have put on a brave face. The players talk about Walsh's absence and the shock of losing her to injury as having brought the team closer together. That's what happens when you lose your team's most important player.

The first 24 hours or so after the injury was a case of preparing for the worst — those dreaded three letters «ACL» hanging over Walsh. But by mid-afternoon on Saturday, the clouds lifted a little. The prognosis came back: she had avoided tearing her ACL — an injury that's already robbed England of Leah Williamson and Beth Mead of a place at the World Cup.

— Women's World Cup: Landing page | Schedule | Rosters | News — Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.)

But it is still not certain that she will play again in this tournament. England are being tight-lipped on whether she has any chance of featuring again for the Lionesses, though such a timeline depends not only on how the player is recovering, but also the team's progression. Talk to anybody in and around the squad, though, and they will all talk of Walsh's importance.

«It's difficult losing a player of her ability and the quality that she brings… she's a vital part of the team as well, so it's tough,» Rachel Daly said. Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall, in his role as an analyst for the BBC, said Walsh is «almost irreplaceable.» On the night of England's 1-0 win over Denmark, ex-Lioness Ellen White — who, like Walsh, started every match in the Euros last summer — said: «I dreaded to think of the idea of us ever losing her because she was one of our best players.»

White's analysis came through the prism of looking back at how England